2024 Year In Review - Scroll Saw Challenge

[Travis]

Christmas is over and we start a new year.  Whenever January rolls around, I often reflect on the previous year.  I enjoy looking back at the memories, accomplishments, and projects that made the past year special. For this month's challenge, think about your favorite scroll saw projects from last year and share it with us. What made it stand out? Was it a meaningful gift, or did it have a special purpose? I always love hearing the stories behind each project. I’m excited to see your favorites!

[Thruster]

This jewelry box is a Carole Rothman design from issue #61 (Holiday 2015) of Scrollsaw Woodworking & Crafts. I used Bolivian rosewood and alder. The original design used veneer for the red ribbons but while I tried that, I could not get the veneer to bend around the edge without breaking, so I used actual ribbon instead. Finding the ribbon was tough enough, but finding silk flowers that I could use to cut the stamens was even more challenging! This was a labor of love for my wife for Christmas, and she absolutely loved it.  

[BadBob]

I made some layered projects for the first time. This was a significant learning experience as I have never added a backer to my projects. The first ones were from Sheila Landry Designs (sk436-layered-halloween-potion-bottles). I didn't finish them all because I ran out of time. The layers were not all the same size and required a significant amount of sanding to get the edges smooth. At first, I thought I must have messed up the patterns, so I went back and checked them. The ones I received were a different size.

Next, I tried a larger pattern, a sea turtle. Because of its size, this one presented me with a gluing issue discussed earlier in the forum.

[Scrappile]

I have two favorites from 2024.  First was the Halloween candy box, with the secret way to open it.  It was a big hit for old any young alike.

Second was the Nativity I did for this year's. Christmas.

 

[jerry walters]

Just about everything I do is a favorite of mine.  I have 5 that have real meaning.

Air Force C-124 Cargo aircraft - I was a navigator in this airplane.  Before GPS.

F-16 Fighter.  Given to nephew through marriage. Retired from the Colorado Air National Guard.

My signature.  Given to my sons.  I wished I had signatures of my Mom and Dad.

Marine emblem.  Given to the parents of my great nephew whose life came to a tragic end while serving.

Paratrooper mini clock.  Given to a friend who was a paratrooper.

 

[Wichman]

I had two special projects this year. 

The first, a fishing rod rack, still not finished, I've been having trouble with the epoxy not setting up. And, I would rather put it away for a bit, other wise I could lose my temper and break something. This project is way beyond anything I've done before.

The second is a wedding gift for a young couple that I know. I was experimenting with a new technique, multiple panels cut separately then combined and a full size backer used to tie the panels together.

 

 

[GPscroller]

Hard to pick just one favourite.  The one with the most meaning to me was this cutting I did of Dad and his great grand daughter at his 95th birthday(she was just about five).  My sister took the picture and Ridgeback did the pattern for me.

 

Jeff

[Scrappile]

@GPscroller  That is one awesome scrolling piece.  

[MarieC]

My favorite from this past year was my daughter's music box that I gave her for graduation.  The mechanical musical movement I used came out of an old tin box that she had as a child so I designed a piano jewelry box since she loved playing the piano as a child and now as an adult.

 

 

 

[wombatie]

It's been a hard year for our family and these two cutting took my mind of things even if it was only for a little while each day.
I saw the Viking pattern and immediately wanted to cut it for our grandson but my daughter convinced me to enter it into the Royal Melbourne  Show, which I did and miraculously won first prize, still can't get over that.
The second one was a Columbo portrait that I did for my daughter for Christmas, she is a hugh fan.
Both were a giant surprise and warmly received.
Hoping 2025 is a better year.

Marg

 

[preprius]

I would like to share 3.

The 2 easy "little" projects have an effect on people I interact with. 

1) Foot Dr. trinkets. Pink feet drawers for all 5 employees.

 

2) Some friends that love cats.

This one had a bigger impact than original plan. 

The group of girls moved into a rental house from a trailer park. They are associated with trap, neuter, release of feral cats. They were excited to decorate for holloween for the first time. 

Kali had designed the "lotions and potions" sign then got sick 7 days before halloween. So I got the design and added scrollsawn plastic bottle to enhance the design. Added plastic smoke and names. The board was given back to them 5 days before halloween. I routed the wood for them. The other girls painted the routed background.  Teamwork.

Kali came back from the hospital for 2 days and she saw the sign.  But had to go back to hospital. So she did not enjoy the trick or treat kids. I think the other girls took the name block to her in hospital.  So she got to see her name block.

They had to pull the ventilator 1 day after Thanksgiving. The cancer destroyed her lungs. 35 yr old.

Her twin brother came to her house during funeral and saw the name block and asked if he could have it. The other girls agreed. 

3) Hat #4 cowgirl hat. Canarywood. This one had a rough start. Brim wood had glue issues and had cracks.  When sanding the sides had a stress fracture.  But for shipping everything fell perfect. I went to boot barn to get a hat box. The lady allowed me to check if hat would fit. The hat was like 1/4" to wide. So she said she had a spare Stetson box , it fit !!!.  No charge.

[heppnerguy]

13 hours ago, wombatie said:

It's been a hard year for our family and these two cutting took my mind of things even if it was only for a little while each day.
I saw the Viking pattern and immediately wanted to cut it for our grandson but my daughter convinced me to enter it into the Royal Melbourne  Show, which I did and miraculously won first prize, still can't get over that.
The second one was a Columbo portrait that I did for my daughter for Christmas, she is a hugh fan.
Both were a giant surprise and warmly received.
Hoping 2025 is a better year.

Marg

 

I can see why you were awarded first place on your project. I is magnificent. I have been eyeing that one too but my wife is not into that culture type item so I am thinking it probably is not worth my time to cut it.

Dick

heppnerguy

[Hudson River Rick]

I think one of my favorite pieces was a VALENTINE gift to my wife.

Ann Marie "LOVED" it.

Rick

[Gonzo]

I made the puppy in the basket for my first grandchild, born in August. 
The two cats were made for 2 of my sisters, both of who are cat lovers

[heppnerguy]

5 hours ago, Gonzo said:

I made the puppy in the basket for my first grandchild, born in August. 
The two cats were made for 2 of my sisters, both of who are cat lovers

Very nicely done on all three items. You are doing so well with your intarsia.  I love seeing you doing this.

Dick

heppnerguy

[Hudson River Rick]

@jerry walters Very nice work on all of those pieces, Jerry.  

THANK YOU for your service to our country.

Rick

 

[Gonzo]

8 hours ago, heppnerguy said:

Very nicely done on all three items. You are doing so well with your intarsia.  I love seeing you doing this.

Dick

heppnerguy

Thanks Dick!  

[heppnerguy]

As you may or may not have seen, I posted a photo of a shirt my granddaughter was wearing on Thanksgiving and told her I would attempt to make a pattern from it and then attempt to make her a wooden plague of it, for her.

 I am posting the picture I took of her shirt and followed by the end results of my effort to make her a plaque. It did not come out exactly as I had in mind but I still felt pretty good about the end results and she said she loved it so it does not get any better than that.

Dick

heppnerguy

[Wichman]

Very nice  

[jerry walters]

That is really neat Dick.  I'm sure your granddaughter will cherish this forever and tell her children and grandchildren that her grandpa made it.

Jerry

[Scrappile]

That is a great piece, Dick.  

[rjweb]

dick, that is beautiful job, RJ

[OCtoolguy]

On 1/3/2025 at 2:47 AM, Thruster said:

This jewelry box is a Carole Rothman design from issue #61 (Holiday 2015) of Scrollsaw Woodworking & Crafts. I used Bolivian rosewood and alder. The original design used veneer for the red ribbons but while I tried that, I could not get the veneer to bend around the edge without breaking, so I used actual ribbon instead. Finding the ribbon was tough enough, but finding silk flowers that I could use to cut the stamens was even more challenging! This was a labor of love for my wife for Christmas, and she absolutely loved it.  

It's beautiful! You did a great job.

[OCtoolguy]

On 1/3/2025 at 5:29 AM, BadBob said:
I made some layered projects for the first time. This was a significant learning experience as I have never added a backer to my projects. The first ones were from Sheila Landry Designs (sk436-layered-halloween-potion-bottles). I didn't finish them all because I ran out of time. The layers were not all the same size and required a significant amount of sanding to get the edges smooth. At first, I thought I must have messed up the patterns, so I went back and checked them. The ones I received were a different size.



Next, I tried a larger pattern, a sea turtle. Because of its size, this one presented me with a gluing issue discussed earlier in the forum.

Very nice work!

[OCtoolguy]

On 1/3/2025 at 8:22 AM, Scrappile said:

I have two favorites from 2024.  First was the Halloween candy box, with the secret way to open it.  It was a big hit for old any young alike.

Second was the Nativity I did for this year's. Christmas.

 

Excellent Paul. Well done!